Clutch



Dec. 7,1926. Ema-44s E. E. WEMP CLUTCH Filed April 15 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

' ing line. This will be more fully Patented Dec. 7, 3926. ET

ERNEST E. WEMIP, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TITCE. I

Application filed April 13, 1925. Serial No. 22,568.

This invention relates to clutches and power lines, and has for its purpose the interposition of yieldable means in the power line to take the shocks due to sudden changes in the load.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with tile interposition of yieldable members in the -power line in such a way as to give a limited flexibility angularly, but which does not permit any appreciable flexure longitudinally of the power line. These yieldable members are preferably incorporated in the clutch unit and are interposed between the driven member and the driven shaft, preferably between the hub and the driven disc.

It is not broadly new to interpose flexible ing distorted from their designed locations during the rotating movement, resulting in thumping, chattering and wearing of the parts. By my improved design, the parts are held and roperly guided so that there can be a yield only angularly of the shaft. This is the only direction in which the yield is functionally desirable, consequently no difiiculties are encountered b reason of interposing a non-metallic mem er in the drivexplained hereinaften,

Referring to the drawings! Fig. 1 is a section of the clutch my improvement.

incorporatin ig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in sec tion, showing the rubber blocks and the associated parts.

fFig. 3 is an elevation of the driven eleinent partly in section. a designates the fly-wheel or driving member towhich is removably secured acover plate b which is another driving member. On this is fulcrumed a plurality of pressure relieving levers 0,. whose inner ends are engaged by the clutch-shiftin collar d; their outer ends are pivoted to t e releasin pins 6 which engage with the pressure 'sc 7, which is another one of thedriving members. These elements are all old and are described in some of. my prior applications, and are simply parts of a multiple disc clutch, but

preferably of a typeknown as the single- Elate clutch. However, I do not desire to be 'mited to the single-plate type. The driven element is here shown as a single disc 9,

w ich is preferably a flexible metal disc having the triangular slots h which give the disc the spoked type which is claimed in my Reissue Patent No. 16,014 This, however, simply illustrates a suitable type to be used in connection with my improvement.

The clutch hub z is splined onto the end of the driven shaft j in the type'of clutch I have shown. However, it would be permissible to have the hub locked immovably on the end of the shaft, so far as the character of my improvement is concerned. This hub is of special construction, as will appear from Fig. 3, being provided with a plurality of radial ribs 70. Arranged to encircle this is a ring m, preferably a die-casting of aluminum? This rin is provided with a plurality of inward y extending ribs n.

locks of rubber o, either rubber composition material or other yieldable material 39 are interposed preferably in a crowded relation in the spaces between the inwardly pro.-

.jecting ribs and the outwardly projecting ribs la. The driven disc is then assembled on the one side of the hub, and the two collars and g are riveted in place, thereby comp eting the assembly of the driven element and if the riveting has been tightly done, it will be seen that there can be no yield longitudinally ofthe driving line, but

there is a small permissible yield angularly of the driving line. This is calculated to relieve the rigid condition which obtains in an all-metal driving line, and to interpose such a slight yield as is calculated to take up, in a measure sudden shocks due .to sud- .den changes of the load. Preferably all the surfaces which contacti and have a slight relative movement Where I the ield takes place, are carefully machined so t at the movements will be guided with" precision-and there will be no distortion of the rotating elements from their proper location so as to cause any thumping, chattering or wear. I refer more particularly to the machining of the surfaces of the ring, the two collars, and the hub. What I claim is: l

1. In a clutch, a driven member com rising a hub, a driven disc seated concentrically on the hub, said hub provided with ribs, a ring encirchng the hub, abut laterally against said disc and provided with inwardly projecting ribs engaging in the spaces between the aforementioned ribs, and blocks of yieldable non-metallic material crowded between the ribs, and means restraining said parts from yielding laterally of the disk. 2. In a clutch, a driven member comp'ris ing a hub, a driven discseated on said hub, said hub rovided with ribs, a ring encircling the ab, abutting laterally against the center ortion of the disc and provided with inwar' y projecting ribs engaging'in' the spaces between the aforementioned ribs, blocksof deformable material crowded between the ribs, and means clamping the parts together but permitting yield angularly of the power line but preventing yield longitudinally thereof.

3. In a clutch,v a driven member com rising a hub, a driven disc seated on the ab,

. the ribs, and collars clamped together on the outside of the parts to prevent yield longitudinally'of the ower line but permitting Iyield singularly t ereof, the disc and'ring emg keyed together. v 4. In a clutch, a driven disc and a hub in driving relation with respect to each other, blocks of distortable material supported betweensaid members in pockets so that the 1 same are closely restrained on all sides. I In testimony whereofl have affixed my signature.

' ERNEST is. when 

